At 2:00 pm, I excitedly checked into the Kingston VIA Rail Train Station arriving from Toronto, Ontario to my new home for the next eagerly anticipated month. After being warmly greeted and welcomed by two staff members from the Queen’s Shad Valley campus, we quickly began to connect and share our stories with one another.
How do I describe Queen’s Campus? Simply put, it is fantastic! The buildings feature cleverly designed architecture, are very clean and well maintained and are covered with eye pleasing vegetation ranging from leafy vines to pleasant smelling flowers. In addition to this, the campus as an entire package is all within walking range and bears a warm welcoming feeling. Queen’s not only contains excellent facilities, but also a great variety of all kinds of stuff! For example, the cafeteria not only contains traditional fatty foods, but also boasts a wide assortment of healthy home cooked meals that any food lover wouldn’t be able to resist. By the way, did I mention that consumption is unlimited, it’s all you can eat! All in all, the Queen’s campus has been a delight so far and I cannot wait to further explore and harvest the experiences it has to offer.
As the day progressed, I was introduced to some truly amazing fellow Shads. Everyone was friendly, caring and eager to learn more about each other. Me and my roommate Tony immediately began to establish an excellent relationship and shared a great deal in common. Did I mention that our group contains a very diverse and varied group of Shads? Not only did we have Shads from all across Canada, but also from all across the world! These individuals came from places as far away as Saudi Arabia and China to participate in this well regarded program.
After several “ice” breaking activities, our group of Shads concluded the day with a unexpected surprise challenge. In each one of the five sub divided groups, members had to work with one another to construct a structure that was to only be made out of newspaper and limited masking tape. In addition to this, it had to be able to fit all the members inside, be free standing, and feature a roof. For some, the challenge was a great success but for others like myself, our group failed horribly! Although this challenge was a competition, it still was tremendous fun and a good way to interact and progress our relations amongst other Shads! Hopefully we can expect more fun activities as such in the future.
On a closing note, I am delighted to have made the decision to attend Shad Valley this year. I am sure without a doubt that this program will embark all Shads on an unforgettable experience that will provide a special memory for each and every one of us throughout our lifetimes. Thanks for tuning into this blog from Queen’s 2010 Shad Valley! Expect a whole lot more from other Shads from campuses all across Canada!
Rahul Kalsi, Shad Valley Queen’s University 2010
Hometown: Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
